Walsh nails longest shot put in 15 years
Niall Anderson
Tom Walsh has unleashed shot put’s biggest effort of the past 15 years, hurling a mammoth 22.67m at the Sir Graeme Douglas International Track Challenge in Auckland yesterday.
His new national record and personal best put is the biggest in the sport since 2003, while nobody has exceeded Walsh’s mark since 1990.
His record effort easily surpassed his previous outdoor best of 22.31m and the 22.67m mark sees Walsh tied for ninth on the all-time list.
Walsh knew his attempt was good coming out of the hand, but was surprised to have shattered his previous best.
“It felt pretty easy and pretty good — I got through it pretty well. I knew it was far, I just didn’t know it was quite that far. It was great to just put that one throw together.”
The world record has stood for 28 years, with Randy Barnes — later banned for life due to doping — hurling 23.12m in 1990.
Walsh believes that record is bound to fall and that he could be the man to break it.
“Every day, it gets more of a possibility — the closer you get to it, the more you believe. Considering how easy that was, I think it’s there. I know I’ve got more up my sleeve still.”
Walsh won the event by more than 1.5m and his dominance further enhances his massive favouritism for the Commonwealth Games.
“Looking at the Comm Games, it’s looking pretty good — hopefully I’ll be dropping some more bombs.”
Dame Valerie Adams won the women’s shot put with a season’s best of 18.48m. Canadian Brittany Crew recorded the same distance on her second attempt but was pipped by Adams via countback.
Eliza McCartney topped the pole vault with 4.75m. She had three attempts at 4.85m — a national record — but fell just short. She had mixed emotions after her performance.
“I’m kind of happy that I’m a little bit frustrated with only jumping 4.75m, it’s a good consistent height now. It’s exciting that it’s almost not good enough yet. To be attempting [personal bests] all the time, that means you’re in a good place at least, got to be happy with that.”
The Olympic bronze medallist cleared 4.90m last week but the runup didn’t meet international standards and she couldn’t quite topple her official personal best of 4.82m.
“It’s just a matter of getting it together on the day at the Commonwealth Games.” Filipo Daugunu, Alex Mafi, Caleb Timu tries; Jono Lance 2 cons Emiliano Boffelli 2, Javier Ortega Desio 2, Bautista Delguy, Bautista Ezcurra tries; Nicolas Sanchez 5 cons; 3 pens Malcolm Marx 2, Lourens Erasmus, Sylvian Mahuza, Marvin Orie tries; Elton Jantjies 5 cons FRIDAY Chiefs v Highlanders, Hamilton, 7.35pm Rebels v Hurricanes, Melbourne 9.45pm SATURDAY Blues v Sharks, Auckland, 7.35pm Brumbies v Waratahs, Canberra 9.45pm SUNDAY Lions v Crusaders, Johannesburg, 12.30am Bulls v Stormers, Pretoria, 3.15am